Every year in early June, when the two Stanley Cup finalists step onto the ice, Don Cherry uses his platform in the first intermission of Game 1 to wave the flag in front of the entire country.

And, in the process, carve Canadian teams for lacking enough homebrews on their rosters.

On Wednesday night, history repeated itself when Grapes took aim at the two combatants in the Battle of Ontario — the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Ottawa Senators.

Using the stage of Coach’s Corner, Cherry gleefully pointed out that the Western Conference champion Los Angeles Kings have 15 Canadian-born players on their roster. The Eastern Conference titleholders New York Rangers, meanwhile, have their own impressive cache of Canadians with 12.

Then it was time to turn the spotlight onto the Leafs and Senators. And not in a positive way.

Indeed, Cherry accused the Senators of being in love with “Europeans” while pointing at the Leafs for having a penchant for “Americans.”

“And where are they now?” Cherry asked of the Leafs and Sens, insinuating that their lack of Canadians is why the respective seasons of both teams were done weeks ago.

Back in 2007, Lafleur, then already serving as an ambassador for the Canadiens, ripped into the team for a perceived lack of talent.

“The Canadiens have no first line, they count on four fourth lines!” Lafleur said.

Ouch.

And this was a shot at the same organization that was paying him.

Given how outspoken Guy is, should anyone REALLY be surprised that Lafleur chirped to a Montreal newspaper about the Habs’ moribund 1-0 elimination loss at the hands of the Rangers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference final?

Not at all.

Lafleur singled out forwards Vanek and Pacioretty, suggesting they folded under the pressure when it counted the most.

“Guys like Vanek and Pacioretty, you can’t keep them on your team,” Lafleur told La Presse. “They can stay home if they are not willing to pay the price. “Your team is never going to win with players like them who disappear when they face adversity.”

Vanek, acquired from the New York Islanders at the deadline, is a pending unrestricted free agent who likely won’t be back in Montreal. He disappeared for much of the East final, notching two points in six games. Most fans take issue with the criticism offered at Pacioretty, who scored 39 goals during the regular season. But there were times during the playoffs where the talented winger did admit he wasn’t producing up to his own expectations.

“Do not settle for a good season,” Lafleur said. “You do not play hockey for good seasons. You play to win the Stanley Cup.”

In the end, relax people. It’s just Guy being Guy. Disagree if you don’t like his stance. But Guy’s going to talk. That’s just Guy.

CROSS-CHECKS

Presenting 47, 42 and 38 — three numbers that the Rangers are likely aware about when they studied the Kings. All of them related to the number of hits delivered by Los Angeles in these 2014 playoffs. In the first round versus San Jose, they handed out about 47 per game. In their seven-game victory over the Anaheim Ducks in the second round, they handed out 42 per contest. And in eliminating the defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks in overtime of Game 7, they delivered 38 per outing ... When the Kings overcame a 2-0 hole in Game 1, it was the 23rd time in these 2014 playoffs that a team had overcome a two-goal deficit in a game. Compare that to the final 10 years earlier between the Tampa Bay Lightning — featuring current Rangers Brad Richards and Marty St. Louis against Darryl Sutter’s Calgary Flames. According to Hockey Night in Canada, there was not a single lead change in that entire series. My, how times have changed ... Both benches were warned in the second period to give the goaltenders space to play directly after Kings defenceman Willie Mitchell was practically in the face of Henrik Lundqvist ... Drew Doughty takes a butt end in the face from Chris Kreider late in the second period. No call. Doughty was livid on the bench. One minute later, his Kings teammate Mike Richards goes to the box for — you guessed it high sticking ... It doesn’t take Kreider long to feel the wrath of opposing fans. In Game 1 vs. the Habs, he blew a tire on a breakaway and collided with Carey Price, knocking the Habs goalie out of the series. In Game 1 versus the Kings, he pool-cues Doughty in the mush.

LAST MINUTE OF PLAY

The mayors of New York and Los Angeles are letting their musical mouths do their talking for them.

In a wager between the heads of the two cities, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said he will appear on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC and sing the classic Frank Sinatra song, New York, New York, if the Rangers win the Cup.

However, if the Kings win, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio will go on Kimmel’s show and sing the Randy Newman song, I Love L.A.

“Start spreading the news,” de Blasio said. “It’s been over 20 years since the Stanley Cup has found its home in New York City, and we look forward to it making its way here. Let’s go Rangers.”

In addition, the mayor of the city of the losing team will have to buy hot dogs for the Kimmel show audience.

In a Maple Leafs dressing room too
often stuffed with inflated egos,
personal agendas and a greater concern
for personal stats rather than the
overall standings, the arrivals of
Mike Babcock and, now, Lou Lamoriello,
are a sobering reality check for all
concerned.